Insect destroyer



Oct. 29, 1940. D. s. KARR INSECT DESTROYER Filed oct. 12, 1957 2Shoots-Sheet 1 Oct. 29, 19.40. D s KARR f l 2,219,743

INSECT DESTROYER Filed 001'.. l2, 1957 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @l l INVENTR.-

ZIBY...

AT EY Patented Oct. 29, 1940 veATrlSsur.V oFF-ica INsEoT DESTROYERDarwin s. Karr, Les Angeles, Calif. Application oeteber 12, 1937, SerialN; 168,648 1 claim. (o1. 43112 This invention relates to novel andimproved constructions in electric fly Iand-insect destroy-v ers and itconsists in the constructions, arrangements and combinations` hereindescribed and claimed.

It is the-cardinal purpose of the invention to provide a novelconstruction of grid, having an arcuate surface, facilitating andenticing flies and insects to alight thereon.

Is is also an object of the invention to provide an insect destroyer ofeconomical manufacture and highly sanitary in the provision of aremovable tray for disposing of the destroyed insects.

Additional objects, advantages and features of invention will beapparent from the following description considered in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a destroyer, constructed in accordancewith my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged top plan view, parts being broken away.

Figure 3 1s a sectional View, partly in section.

Figure 4 is a perspective View of a guard employed with the cage.

Figure 5 is an end elevation illustrating the guard installed.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a frame structure indicated atl0, which may be of any desired shape and size, although in the presentinstance, this is shown as'rectangular, and includes a lower horizontalange II providing an open bo-ttom and an upper flange I2, defining anopening in a cover which has a convex curvature, as may be seen fromFigure 3.

The frame II! is suitably supported by legs I3 at the longitudinal sidesand as shown, the legs are formed from strap metal interconnected by amedial portion I4. The portion I4 may be raised from the supportingsurface as shown, or may extend in a plane flush with the lower end ofthe legs, as desired.

An insect collection tray I5 is provided, oom-V prising lateral anges I5cooperable with the respective flanges Il of the frame for supportthereof. The frame II! is suitably apertured to admit the tray forseating engagement with the anges and to permit ready withdrawal foremptying of the tray, as required.

An insulator bracket IIS is mounted upon an upright wall adjacent oneend of the frame II] and similar brackets I 6 are secured to the frameadjacent the three remaining corners of the frame, the brackets Iii-I5affording support for a grid II. The grid in the present instancecomprises a series of transverse support rods I8 upon the upper surfaceof which and'extended thereacross there are secured a plurality ofclose# ly spacedfbars l I9. Any suitablemeans may be 4 employed vfor'slipportirigv thefgrid upon the brackets Ibut in the present instance,I `have 5 shown a binding ,screw 20.. .neor'm're of the adjacent ba'rsI9`inay be bent downwardly', as at a and positioned behind the screw 20.Tightl ening of the screw will obviously secure the grid to the bracket.Two or more of the brackets m I6 may be thus constructed, as foundnecessary. The grid I'I forms `one electrode of a circuit wherebyelectrocution of insects may be accomplished, as will be apparent as thedescription proceeds. w

The bracket I6 includes a suitable binding post or connection 20 for alead 2| from a. transformer 22, one side of which is grounded to thecover 23 forthe frame. One or two of the bars I 9 are electricallyconnected with the connec- 20 tion 20". The cover 23 is suitably spacedfrom the grid Il and uponthe underside of the flange I2 there lissecured by means of clamp screws 24 a grid 25, constructed similar tothe grid I'I,

although the bars I9 will be in staggered rela- 25 tion with respect tothe bars I 9 of the grid I1.

The ange I2 and the cover 23 are convex, and the grids l1 and 25 will besimilarly shaped, as may be seen in Figure 3, presenting` a surfaceinducing ilies and other insects to alight thereon but the grids arespaced suniciently close to permit the insects to complete the circuitwhen the insects crawl into engagement therebetween and' both grids arecontacted. The electrocuted insects will fall through the grids into thetray I5, and the eluvia of previously killed flies and other insects isan irresistible attraction to other insects, obviating the necessityrfor baiting the destroyer.

When the tray has accumulated sufficient nies 4D and other insects, itmay be readily withdrawn for'cleaning.

In order that the trap may be harmless to persons who may come intocontact therewith,

I have provided a guard 26 illustrated in Figures 45 4 and 5.

The guard in the present instance, is formed from rod wire of anysuitable gauge, and consists of a plurality of substantially U-shapedbrace members 21, the downwardly extended legs 28 of which are connectedto longitudinally extended parallel rods 29. The distance between i thelongitudinal rods is such as to readily span the sides of the frame I0,and at suitable points the frame lo win be providedA with tapped aper-vI tures for reception of stove bolts which are also engaged throughapertured clips carried by the rods 29.

The U-shaped brace members 21 are substantially arcuate-shaped,conforming to the upper wall of the frame l0, being positioned adistance thereabove, and upon their upper edges a plurality of wirestrands 3l are secured, the strands extending lengthwise thereacross andbeing spaced suiciently close to prevent a persons hand, fingers, orother portions of the body from encountering either of the grids I1 or25. The strands 3l may be arranged in multiples of three or otherwise,but in any event they should be arranged so as to not interfere withentrance of insects to the grids, and by arranging vthe guard as an openframe, ample entrance space is provided by which insects may gain accessto the electried grids.

It should be noted that the guard may be readily nested over the trapfor shipping purposes. l

It will bel readily apparent that my destroyer is of such nature that itmay bereadily handled bya person without liability of shock Afrom theelectric current since it will be impossible for a person to encounterboth grids simultaneously,

as will be required, and while I have shown and described a specificembodiment of the invention, this is by way of illustration only, and Iconsider as my own all such modifications in structure as fairly fallwithin the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

An electrical insect destroyer comprising a box-like frame having anopen bottom and a convex upper surface, the convex surface having anopening formed therein, a grid secured and electrically grounded to theunder side of the convex surface and positioned within the opening, thegrid having a curvature corresponding to that of the convex surface ofthe frame, insulator brackets secured on opposed vertical walls of theframe below the grid, one of said brackets having a binding post forconnection with an electro-motive source, a second grid having acurvature corresponding to that of the rst named grid and spacedtherebelow, said second named grid being positioned on the insulatorbrackets and electricaly connected to the binding post, and certain ofsaid brackets having a binding screw for clamping said second named 25grid thereto. Y DAR KARR.

